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Wang, Shikun

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0282-878X

Mayo Clinic

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Citations 3

An open-label multicenter Phase 1/2 trial of venetoclax-dexamethasone in Relapsed/Refractory t(11;14)-positive systemic AL amyloidosis
Kapoor, Prashant , Wang, Shikun , Bal, Susan , Stockerl-Goldstein, Keith , Selvan, S.T., Akhtar, Othman Salim , Lentzsch, Suzanne , Chakraborty, Rajshekhar , D’Souza, Anita , Bhutani, Divaya , Selvan, Sherin, Sanchorawala, Vaishali

Blood | December 5, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 694-694

10.1182/blood-2025-694 Get It

Abstract Background: The t(11;14) translocation occurs in 50-60% patients with systemic AL amyloidosis. Venetoclax, an oral BCL2 inhibitor, has shown promising efficacy across t(11;14)-positive plasma cell disorders. However, till date, there are no prospective data in patients with previously treated AL amyloidosis, including those with prior exposure to anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Methods: We conducted an investigator-initiated phase 1/2 multicenter open-label trial of venetoclax (± dexamethasone) in patients with relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis. Key inclusion criteria were central-laboratory confirmed t(11;14) by FISH analysis in ≥5% of CD-138-selected cells on bone marrow aspirate, measurable hematologic disease (dFLC≥2 mg/dL and/or M-spike ≥0.5 g/dL), prior exposure to anti-CD38 mAb, and ≥1 prior line of therapy. Key exclusion criteria were NT-proBNP>8500 pg/mL, NYHA class IIIb/IV, and ECOG>2. Phase 1 dose escalation utilized Bayesian Optimal Interval Network (BOIN) design to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) across four levels: DL1 (venetoclax 200mg), DL2 (400mg), DL3 (400mg + dexamethasone 10mg weekly), and DL4 (400mg + dexamethasone 20mg weekly). A maximum of 6 cycles of therapy on the protocol were planned, with dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) being evaluated in cycle 1. The design accommodated 12-15 patients with ~67% probability of selecting the dose closest to the 25% target toxicity rate. Here, we present the results of the Phase 1 portion of the study, which has completed enrollment. Accrual in Phase 2 portion is currently ongoing. Results: Of 16 patients screened, 12 were enrolled and evaluable for safety and efficacy. Screen failures were attributed to second malignancy (n=2), t(11;14) positivity in <5% CD-138-selected cells (n=1), and t(11;14) negativity (n=1). Enrolled patients had a median age of 64 years, with 25% female, and 17% Black representation. At screening, the median percentage of CD-138-selected cells with t(11;14)-positivity on FISH was 65%. All patients had prior anti-CD38 mAb-exposure by protocol design, with 11/12 patients also exposed to bortezomib. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 1 (range, 1-5). Disease markers at treatment initiation included median dFLC of 14.35 mg/dL (range, 2.13-186.28), median NT-proBNP of 712.5 pg/mL (range, 54-8831), and the median serum creatinine of 0.99 mg/dL (range, 0.69-3.01). Regarding safety, there were no DLTs encountered during the specified timeframe. One patient each received DLs 1, 2, and 3, with all remaining patients receiving DL 4 (400mg + dexamethasone 20mg weekly), which is the RP2D in this trial. There was only one patient that developed grade 3 infection (lung infection; COVID-19). No tumor-lysis syndrome, grade 3 or higher cytopenia, or treatment-emergent deaths occurred. Hematologic overall response (PR or better) was achieved in 11/12 patients (91.7%), with 9/12 (75%) attaining ≥VGPR [4/12 (33.3%) heme-CR, with the remaining being VGPR]. The median time from treatment initiation to best response was 29 days. Among 7 patients that were evaluable for cardiac response, one underwent heart transplant after 3 cycles of study treatment (while in heme-CR), hence was no longer evaluable for cardiac organ response. Of the remaining 6 patients, 2 have achieved cardiac response till date. Renal organ response was observed in 4/7 evaluable patients. At a median follow-up of 8.8 months, 4 out of 12 patients have completed 6 treatment cycles, with 2 receiving ongoing therapy. Six patients discontinued treatment early due to hematologic progression (n=1), suboptimal hematologic response (n=2), patient preference (n=2), and heart transplant (n=1). Patient-reported outcomes (assessed by PROMIS-29) showed no significant changes in Physical Functioning and Fatigue domains among 5 patients with paired baseline and end-of-treatment assessments. Updated follow-up data will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this represents the first prospective evaluation of venetoclax-dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory t(11;14) AL amyloidosis. The combination demonstrated substantial hematologic efficacy (75% ≥VGPR rate) and a favorable safety profile without dose-limiting toxicities. Our results support investigation of venetoclax-based combinations in the frontline treatment of newly diagnosed t(11;14) AL amyloidosis.
Development of a Risk Prediction Model for 6-Month Early Mortality in Patients with Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis Treated with Daratumumab-Based Frontline Therapy
Bazarbachi, Abdul-Hamid, Zanwar, Saurabh , Bodanapu, Geethika , Chen, Gui-Zhen , Kumar, Shaji , Lentzsch, Suzanne , Patwari, Anannya , Wang, Shikun , Cowan, Andrew J., Mellgard, George , Bazarbachi, Abdul Hamid , Hegenbart, Ute , Bhutani, Divaya , Chen, Guizhen, D’Souza, Anita , Dispenzieri, Angela , Gertz, Morie A. , Milani, Paolo , Muchtar, Eli , Palladini, Giovanni , Sanchorawala, Vaishali , Schönland, Stefan , Chakraborty, Rajshekhar

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 287-287

10.1182/blood-2024-202589 Get It

Background: Despite substantial improvements in early mortality (EM) for patients with systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL), rates remained high in the bortezomib-era, at approximately 25% (Muchtar et al. Blood. 2017). However, the therapeutic landscape in AL amyloidosis has changed with the ANDROMEDA trial, which led to the approval of daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (Dara-VCd) in the frontline setting. The incidence and predictors of EM in the context of daratumumab-based frontline therapy have not been studied. Methods: We performed an international multicenter retrospective cohort study of all consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AL treated with frontline Dara-VCd or Dara-Vd, and followed until 12/31/2023. EM was defined as death from any cause within 6 months of treatment initiation. Our primary objective was to identify the rate and significant predictors of EM. Univariate logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of EM, which were then included in a multivariate logistic regression model. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the best threshold values that discriminated EM rates for the following continuous variables: age, dFLC (involved-uninvolved), eGFR, NT-proBNP, albumin, and high-sensitivity Troponin-T (hs-TnT). Other variables tested in univariate analysis were the following: ECOG performance status, NYHA functional class, sex, race, light chain isotype, percent bone marrow plasma cells, status of the following cytogenetic abnormalities-t(11;14), +1q, hyperdiploidy, del(13q), high-risk translocations, and del(17p), and the number of organs involved (2 vs 1). To build the clinical prediction score, each variable was weighted according to the β coefficient (natural logarithm of odds ratio) obtained from the multivariable regression. The β coefficients were rounded to the nearest 0.5 and multiplied by 2 to obtain an even number. Results The study cohort included 335 AL patients treated with daratumumab-based frontline therapy (92.2% Dara-VCd, 7.8% Dara-Vd), with all surviving patients having at least 6 months of follow-up. The median age at diagnosis was 66.5 years (range, 59.4 - 71.3), and 6.7% (n = 22) were Non-Hispanic blacks. Median dFLC at diagnosis was 22.91 mg/dL (range, 0.2-1093.4), and median NT-proBNP was 2415 pg/mL (range, 13-70,000). Mayo 2004 stages IIIA/IIIB represented 44% of the total cohort, with 17% having ECOG ≥ 2 and 25.4% having NYHA Class III/IV symptoms. The cumulative incidence of EM was 10.7%, with the incidence in patients with Mayo 2004 stage I, II, IIIA, and IIIB being 0%, 8%, 12.5%, and 25% respectively. On univariate analysis with unadjusted odds ratio (OR), the following variables significantly predicted EM: Age ≥ 75 (OR=2.8, p=0.013) ECOG ≥ 2, (OR 4.9, p<0.001), NYHA Class ≥ III (OR=4.95, p<0.001), dFLC ≥9 mg/dL (OR, 10.18, p=0.023), eGFR <33 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR=2.7, p=0.026), NT-proBNP >5276 pg/mL (OR=7.69, p <0.001), hs-TnT >70 ng/L (OR=5.88, p<0.001), and absence of t(11; 14) (OR=2.33, p=0.041). These variables were entered into multivariate regression, except for ECOG and NYHA, which were combined to create a single variable (values ranging from 0-8), and hs-TnT was dropped due to substantial missing data as centers used different troponin assays. NT-proBNP was rounded to 5300 pg/ml for ease of clinical application. Based on the multivariate analysis, the following scores were assigned to each variable: Age ≥75 (2.0), ECOG+NYHA (1.0 x combined score), NT-proBNP >5,300 pg/ml (2.0), and absence of t(11;14) (3.0). This led to a score ranging from 1-15, and two risk-groups: low-risk (score <9; 87.5%) and high-risk (score ≥9; 12.5%). The respective cumulative incidence of EM was 6.1% versus 50% (p<0.001). The c-index of the model was 0.725 (95% CI, 0.676-0.774). Conclusion: Using variables that are readily available in the clinic, we have developed a two-tiered risk-prediction model for EM in AL amyloidosis in the context of daratumumab-based frontline therapy. The model needs to be externally validated in an independent dataset.
CheMo4METPANC: A randomized phase 2 study with combination chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel), chemokine (C-X-C) motif receptor 4 inhibitor (motixafortide), and immune checkpoint blockade (cemiplimab) compared to chemotherapy alone in metastatic
Manji, Gulam A. , Chalabi, Morteza Hajkarim, Pellicciotta, Ilenia, Ana, Sarah Sta , Sender, Naomi , Pan, Samuel , Ross, Isabelle, Wang, Shikun , Izar, Benjamin , Wu, Linda, May, Michael S. , Labadie, Brian , Bates, Susan E. , Shi, Qian , Raufi, Alexander G.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | July 3, 2024 | Volume: 42 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: TPS4208-TPS4208

10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.tps4208 Get It

TPS4208 Background: Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) carries a 5-year relative survival of 3%. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have thus far failed to improve outcomes due to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Signaling through the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)/C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) axis results in exclusion of anti-tumor immune cells in mouse PDAC models. Longitudinal survival studies testing combinations of CXCR4i, aPD-1, and gemcitabine in the KPC mouse model of PDAC demonstrated a survival benefit with the combination of all three agents. Results from a multicenter, investigator-initiated, single arm pilot study evaluating the preliminary safety and efficacy ofMotixafortide (CXCR4i), Cemiplimab (aPD1), Gemcitabine, and Nab-paclitaxel (MCGN) in 11 patients with treatment-naïve mPDAC were recently presented. Seven patients (64%) achieved a partial response, including 6 confirmed partial responses, and 10 patients (91%) had disease control, compared to historic partial response and disease control rates of 23% and 48%, respectively, with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GN). Preliminary median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.6 months compared to historic median PFS of 5.5 months with GN. Analysis of paired pre- and on-treatment biopsy samples from demonstrated an increase in CD8+ T-cell density in tumors from all 11 patients treated with MCGN (p=0.007). Based on these promising results, the protocol was amended from a single arm expansion totaling 40 patients to a randomized phase 2 study. Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, investigator-initiated phase 2 clinical trial. Patients are randomized 2:1 to receive MCGN or GNalone (N=108). The primary endpoint is progression free survival. The study has 80% power to detect an improvement in PFS from 6 to 9.2 months (HR 0.65) with a one-sided alpha of 0.20. One interim analysis for futility is planned when 50% of the PFS events are observed. Secondary objectives include response rate, disease control rate, duration of clinical benefit and overall survival. Patients will undergo optional paired biopsies which will be analyzed in conjunction with samples collected from the phase I pilot study. Exploratory studies include interrogation of the TME using quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence and single-cell RNA sequencing. The randomized phase 2 trial is open to enrollment and one patient has been randomized as of 1/29/2024. Clinical trial information: NCT04543071 .